We recently connected with Sydney Klinkerman and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Sydney thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear your thoughts about family businesses.

Owning a bakery with my sister has certainly presented its challenges, but I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else. When we first acquired the business a couple of years ago, we faced immense pressure. We had only a few months to secure financing, licensing, a new business name and sign, accountants, and insurance, which naturally led to some arguments under the stress. Our first year as business owners brought its own set of new challenges and a few more disagreements.
However, that’s the nature of co-owning a business with your sister. While we may have our differences from time to time, at the end of the day, we are family, and that bond is unwavering. We both deeply care about this business, and it’s incredibly exciting to see how far we’ve come and to share these accomplishments with one of the closest people to me.

Sydney , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My passion for baking and cake decorating began when I was about 10 years old. I discovered “Cake Boss” on Netflix and was captivated by the creativity of their wedding and birthday cakes. From that moment, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in baking.

I started experimenting with different recipes, even trying my hand at marshmallow fondant, often creating a bit of a mess in our parents’ kitchen with each attempt. After high school, I moved from Nebraska to Colorado and attended the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, where I completed the pastry program.

My externship was at a local bakery called Kim & Jakes Cakes. A few months after I joined their team, my sister also started working there. Together, we learned everything we could about the bakery business. A few years later, Kim and Jake expressed their desire to focus more on their bread business, Kim & Jakes Gluten Free, and offered us the opportunity to take over their gluten free cake business.

When we took over, we wanted to expand our gluten-free offerings beyond just cakes. We’ve since broadened our selection to include gluten-free breads, pies, cookies, and other treats, in addition to our existing wedding and birthday cake options.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

Funding our business was the most challenging obstacle we faced. My sister and I were quite young when we purchased the business—I was 23 and Jordan was 26. This meant we didn’t have substantial savings, and securing a traditional business loan proved impossible. We were on the verge of giving up when our great-aunt generously provided us with a loan. Her support gave us the opportunity to pursue our dream, and we are incredibly grateful for her belief in us.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

We’ve found that attending Farmer’s Markets and hosting pop-ups at various events have been incredibly successful for us. These initiatives have not only helped us attract many new clients but also effectively spread the word about our name change, ensuring our existing customers are aware of our new ownership and continued presence.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sweetsistersboulder.com
• Instagram: sweetsistersbakeshopllc
• Facebook: Sweet Sisters Bake Shop